President Aquino to attend the 9th Asia-Europe
Meeting in Laos from November 5 to 6
President
Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) that
will be held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) from November
5 to 6, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
In a
briefing held in Malacañang, DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
Elizabeth Buensuceso said the President’s attendance to the ASEM 9, his first
since assuming Office, “signals the Philippines’ renewed focus on Europe and
reaffirms the importance of the region as an economic and political partner."
She said
President Aquino is expected to “exchange views with counterparts from the two
regions on the Eurozone crisis, trade and investment facilitation, energy and
food security, disaster management, counter-terrorism, migration, and regional
issues” during the two-day Summit.
According
to the DFA official, Europe is the Philippines’ third largest trade partner
after North America and Asia with trade pegged at $13-billion for about 12
percent of Philippine total trade to the world in 2011.
She added
that P33.3-billion of investments also came from the European Union during the
same period, primarily from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and
Germany.
Aside
from this, Buensuceso said, the President will showcase to his counterparts the
various reforms implemented to rid the government of corruption and improve the
lives of the Filipino people.
“The
President will also highlight the country’s accomplishments in good governance
and inclusive growth, while calling for an enhanced Asia-Europe economic
partnership in the face of global economic and financial uncertainties,”
Buensuceso said.
“He will
also underscore the importance of upholding the rights of migrant workers,
especially at this time of socio-economic difficulties in a number of host
countries in Europe,” she added.
As of
2011, there are 746,701 Filipinos living and working in Europe.
The
Asia-Europe Meeting is a dialogue process started in 1996 with the main
objective of forging a comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe. It is
currently composed of 48 partners – all 10 ASEAN countries, 9 other Asian
countries, the 27 member-states of the European Union, the European Commission
and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEM
is the only forum where Europe and Asia engage one another at the highest
levels of government to discuss international issues of common concern and to
formulate mutually beneficial cooperation on region-to-region basis.
This
year’s theme is “Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity.” PND (rck)
President Aquino to hold bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the
9th Asia-Europe meeting in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic republic in
November
President
Benigno S. Aquino III will hold bilateral talks with seven European countries
at the sidelines of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM9) that will be held in
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic from November 5 to 6, the
Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
In a
press briefing, DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Elizabeth
Buensuceso said the President will be holding bilateral meetings with his
counterparts from the European Council, European Commission, Italy, Norway,
Poland and Switzerland.
She said
that the topics to be discussed between the President and his counterparts from
Europe will cover maritime training, defense, finance, disaster risk reduction
and management, economic cooperation and education.
Aside
from this, Buensuceso said, the President will also “touch base” with the
Filipino community in Laos numbering around 300.
The
Asia-Europe Meeting is a dialogue process started in 1996 with the main
objective of forging a comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe. It is
currently composed of 48 partners – all 10 ASEAN countries, 9 other Asian
countries, the 27 member states of the European Union, the European Commission
and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The Philippines
is a founding partner of ASEM. PND
President Aquino declares November 13 as special
non-working day in Pantukan, Compostela Valley in celebration of its 'Araw ng
Pantukan'
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared November 13 which falls on a Tuesday as a
special (non-working) day in the municipality of Pantukan in the province of
Compostela Valley in celebration of the “Araw ng Pantukan."
The
declaration was issued by virtue of Proclamation No. 483 signed by Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on October 4 to give the people of Pantukan the
full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.
November
13 marks the 76th Foundation Day of the municipality of of Pantukan.
Pantukan
was created into a municipality on November 13, 1936 through Executive Order
No. 64 issued by then President Manuel L. Quezon. The town's name was derived
from the names of Pantu and Kan, two powerful datus who ruled the place. PND
(js)
Malacanang says Aquino government's Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino program is on track
The
Aquino goverment's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is on track to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate extreme poverty
and hunger, a Palace official said on Monday.
"We
maintain that the 4Ps is an investment in the best asset of the Philippines --
the Filipino people -- and that it not only provides beneficiaries with
resources but also creates, in the long term, a skilled and productive
citizenry," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
Lacierda
said the government and other stakeholders have taken steps to address and
reduce poverty. "It is certainly not a political pulpit from which
partisans preach," Lacierda noted.
The MDGs,
which are goals set by the United Nations, are eight international development
targets that all 192 UN member-states and at least 23 international
organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015.
Aside
from eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, the Millennium Development Goals
include -- achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and
empowerment of women; reducing child mortality rate; improving maternal health,
combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental
sustainability; and developing global partnership for development.
Since
President Aquino took office on June 30, 2010, the CCT or Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps) has been reformed and expanded.
"From less than a million beneficiaries
before we entered office, we are now on track to cover 3.1 million by the end
of this year," Lacierda said.
While the
CCT program has its critics, Lacierda said, even Junko Onishi, Social
Protection Specialist of the World Bank said, “the evidence suggests that
Pantawid Pamilya is on track and having impacts on the beneficiary households.”
"Moreover, a World Bank-AusAID report
stated that 4Ps can raise its beneficiaries’ incomes by 12.6 percent and
“reduce overall food poverty in program areas by 5.5 percent,” Lacierda said.
PND (js)
Malacanang welcomes Moody's Investors Service
move upgrading credit rating for the Philippines
The
Aquino government welcomed the move of the Moody’s Investors Service which
upgraded its credit rating for the Philippines.
“We
welcome the positive ratings action from Moody’s Investors Service, which
upgraded the Philippines from Ba2 to Ba1—one notch below investment grade. This
marks the ninth positive ratings action since President Aquino took office on
June 30, 2010, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Monday.
Lacierda
said the "credit rating upgrade shows sustained international confidence
in the Philippines under the Aquino administration, which is especially
striking given a weakened global economy."
"Indeed, this upgrade acknowledges our
resilience and commends our robust responses to an increasingly challenging
milieu," Lacierda said.
"Moody’s likewise recognizes our strong
macroeconomic fundamentals and the government’s efforts to enhance its fiscal
space, as it continues to strive for inclusive growth—including the historic
Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, which may harness the long-untapped potential
of Mindanao as well as secure equitable progress for its people," he
noted.
Lacierda
said the Moody’s upgrade reflects the same confidence of Standard & Poor’s
and Fitch Ratings, which have already rated the Philippines a mere step from
achieving investment grade status.
"This marks a milestone: It has been a
decade since all three credit ratings agencies rated the Philippines one notch
below investment grade status. Good governance is good economics," he
said. PND (js)
Aquino attends 111th anniversary of the National
Museum
President
Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed on Monday the formal opening of the Goverment
Service Insurance Wing at the National Museum in Manila in commemoration of the
museum's 111th Anniversary.
The Chief
Executive attended the 111th Anniversary of the National Museum as guest of
honor held at the Old Senate Session Hall, Old Legislative Building, National
Museum along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila.
As part
of the National Museum's Founding Anniversary, the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) turned over the GSIS art works to the National Museum, paving the
way for the implementation of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the
pension fund and the National Museum last February.
The
President witnessed the ceremonial turn-over of a catalogue showing the GSIS
Art Collection by Daniel Lacson Jr., GSIS Chairman of the Board of Trustees and
Robert Vergara, GSIS President and General Manager, to Ramon R. del Rosario,
Jr. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum and Jeremy Robert
M. Barns, Director of the National Museum.
Under the
agreement, the GSIS will transfer the management of its art collection to the
National Museum "to preserve, maintain, secure and promote the
collection". The MOA also "extends appropriate privileges and
benefits to GSIS members on the use of its facilities enjoyed by other
sponsors, donors and benefactors of the Museum."
To
highlight the partnership between the two institutions, the Museum has named an
area within the National Gallery as the Government Service Insurance Wing. With
its high ceilings and cream-colored walls, the GSIS Wing encompasses three
large galleries on the Senate (Third Floor) of the National Museum, namely,
Galleries XIX, XXI and XXII
The
galleries will display the famous Juan Luna's "Parisian Life" as well
as the works of National Artists Fernando C. Amorsolo, Carlos
"Botong" Francisco, Vicente S. Manansala, Hernando R. Ocampo, Ang
Kiukok, Bencab and National Artist-Elect Federico Aguilar y Alcuaz. The list
includes the works of Sanso, Blanco, Rodriguez Sr. and Galicano.
Meanwhile, the National Museum said it is
working on the declaration of the "Parisian Life" as a National
Cultural Treasure through a duly-designaged Panel of Experts.
The
National Museum has a three-dimensional goal covering diverse of fields of
knowledge through various educational, scientific and cultural activities. As
an educational institution, the National Museum disseminates scientific and
technical knowledge in more understandable and practical forms through
lectures, exhibitions, interviews and publications for students and the general
public.
As a
scientific institution, the National Museum conducts basic research programs
combining integrated laboratory and field work in anthropology and archaeology,
botany, geology, and zoology. It maintains reference collections on these
disciplines and promotes scientific development in the Philippines.
As a
cultural center, the National Museum takes the lead in the study and
preservation of the nation's rich artistic, historical and cultural heritage in
the reconstruction and rebuilding of our nation's past and veneration of the
great pioneers who helped in building our nation.
Also in
attendance were former President Fidel Valdez Ramos; Education Secretary Armin
Luistro; Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez; Manila Mayor Alfedo Lim; officials and
staff of the GSIS and the National Museum. PND (js)
President Aquino bares three-part plan for the
preservation of country's art and culture
President
Benigno S. Aquino III bared on Monday the government’s three-part plan to
preserve the country's art and culture to increase national competitiveness.
In his speech
at the 111th Anniversary of the National Museum at the Old Senate Session Hall,
Old Legislative Building along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila, the Chief
Executive underscored the need to preserve, maintain, secure and promote the
country's culture and the arts which are vital to our national advancement.
"It
is through education, research, and the arts that we can achieve “total human
liberation and development” as a democratic society." President Aquino
said.
The
President laid out his administration’s three-part plan to preserve the
country's national treasure.
"First, to concentrate our efforts on our
core competencies. I am happy to see government institutions working together
to achieve efficiency, enabling each other to focus on their core mandates. The
decision of the GSIS to entrust its collection of art to the National Museum is
an example of this. It gives our people the opportunity to enjoy the marvels of
our various heritages, while allowing the GSIS to focus more on its task,"
the President said.
"Second, we are giving you the means to
do your jobs. The budget increases we have given to our centers of heritage are
significant. For our National Museum, we allocated 238 million pesos for 2012,
which is 95 million pesos higher than your budget for 2011. And for 2013, we
intend to give you 556 million pesos, so that you may carry out the necessary
restorations for our historical and cultural collections," he said.
According
to the President, the government is retrofitting the National Library and
studying the transfer of the National Archives to the Intendencia in Intramuros
to better address the needs of the scholars.
"Now
we are gradually implementing the National Museum Plan of 1998, which will finally
pave the way for the establishment of our National Museum of Natural History,
not just as a showcase for the richness of our natural resources and
biodiversity, but as a place of research and education to help build a more
scientifically literate society," he stressed.
The
government has allocated P500 million to cover the necessary construction
expenses of the museum, the President noted.
"The
third part of our plan is to empower institutions to work with our people and
with each other. With the help of groups like the Philippine National Museum
Foundation, which through the years has shown great support to the National
Museum, we are working hand in hand to preserve our cultural artifacts and to
advance the understanding and appreciation of our people for these," he
said.
He
pointed out that the National Tourism Development Plan identifies the promotion
of the country's culture as central in pursuing our national tourism agenda.
"We
are optimistic that, through this, more Filipinos and foreigners will be
enticed to tour our country. We know that the development of our cultural
program is fundamental in achieving our tourism growth target of ten million
international visitors and 35.5 million domestic tourists by 2016," the
President concluded. PND (js)
